Dollar Store DIY Chalkboard Storage Bins

With less than two weeks left in my pregnancy, I’d say my nesting instinct has definitely kicked in. I’ve been rushing to get everything together for the new baby, and can finally say that everything’s pretty much good to go! When hubby and I ordered a custom changing table, I came up with the idea for these DIY chalkboard storage bins.

Like many new moms, I’ve been trying to find ways to save money on our baby-related expenses. We are planning to cloth diaper, so we needed to keep our stash organized. Because there’s a fairly high upfront cost when cloth diapering, we needed a way to do so without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Materials

I love using storage bins to organize, but the cost can quickly add up. Fortunately, I had a bunch of dollar store bins left over from my classroom last year. Although the bins were $1 each, they are still in great shape after a year of being handled by a group of 8-year-olds.

Step 2: Paint

I made the bins over using paint in my chosen nursery colors as well as chalk paint for the front labels.

At first, I tried to spray paint everything. This worked out fine for recoloring the bins, but I hit a snag when it came time to add the chalkboard labels. I used painter’s tape to section off the area, which seemed fine at first…

But when it came time to remove the tape, the paint came off with it! I was bummed out about this at first, but as I used to say to my students, mistakes are a part of learning. Never again will I overestimate the staying power of spray paint.

I salvaged my project by getting color-matched sample sizes of regular interior paint, and ended up freehanding the chalkboard labels instead. This turned out to be way easier and my labels don’t look so bad! They’re not 100% perfectly square, but I don’t mind and I’m sure my child won’t either.

Right before the paint-peeling disaster.

Second lesson learned: Spray paint is great, but it’s not the solution to everything.

Step 3: Label & Organize

After the bins dried, I used a chalk marker to label them based on what we plan to store in our changing table. The bins were a perfect fit for our cloth diapers, diapering supplies, and other baby essentials we need quick access to. Check out how I decided to organize everything in the end:

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meet kimba

Welcome, dear reader! I'm a creative-minded new mom always on the lookout for my next adventure. Here you'll find stories and articles about travel, motherhood, DIY crafts, and making a home. Stay a while and find the inspiration to start living your adventure.